Two kids ejected from SUV; driver charged

Published: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 8:59 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 8:59 p.m.

OCALA - The driver of a SUV received two citations after he and three others, including two children, were injured Wednesday in a single-vehicle crash in Summerfield, according to Florida Highway Patrol officials.

Trooper Jason Roberts said a 1999 Ford Explorer, driven by Juan Ortiz, was speeding westbound on Southeast 150th Street and approaching County Road 475 when he lost control of the SUV, which traveled onto the south shoulder.

Ortiz overcorrected to the right, the trooper said, which caused the SUV to re-enter the roadway. When it did, it rotated clockwise, and then overturned at least twice, before finally coming to rest on the driver's side on the north shoulder, FHP said.

Roberts said a 5-year-old girl and her mother were ejected, while the woman's 3-year-old son and her boyfriend, the driver of the SUV, were partially ejected.

The woman, Elicia Ross, 28, was transported to Ocala Regional Medical Center in critical condition. Ross' two children were at first taken to MRMC and then transferred to Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Their injuries are non-life threatening, the trooper said.

The children's names were being withheld until next of kin could be notified.

Ortiz, 55, went to MRMC with the children and refused treatment, FHP said. However, while at the hospital, Ortiz was admitted with non-life-threatening injuries, according to FHP.

Roberts said the adults were not wearing their seat belts, and the children were not restrained or in child seats.

Ortiz was cited for careless driving and not having child restraint seats.

Court records show Ortiz has had several traffic convictions and infractions dating back to 2000. Among his convictions were for no motor vehicle registration, leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, four counts of alter license plate validation and one count of unlawful use of a temporary tag.

Ortiz's infractions include driving while license is suspended or revoked, careless driving and not wearing a seat belt.

<p>OCALA - The driver of a SUV received two citations after he and three others, including two children, were injured Wednesday in a single-vehicle crash in Summerfield, according to Florida Highway Patrol officials.</p><p>Trooper Jason Roberts said a 1999 Ford Explorer, driven by Juan Ortiz, was speeding westbound on Southeast 150th Street and approaching County Road 475 when he lost control of the SUV, which traveled onto the south shoulder.</p><p>Ortiz overcorrected to the right, the trooper said, which caused the SUV to re-enter the roadway. When it did, it rotated clockwise, and then overturned at least twice, before finally coming to rest on the driver's side on the north shoulder, FHP said.</p><p>Roberts said a 5-year-old girl and her mother were ejected, while the woman's 3-year-old son and her boyfriend, the driver of the SUV, were partially ejected.</p><p>The woman, Elicia Ross, 28, was transported to Ocala Regional Medical Center in critical condition. Ross' two children were at first taken to MRMC and then transferred to Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Their injuries are non-life threatening, the trooper said.</p><p>The children's names were being withheld until next of kin could be notified.</p><p>Ortiz, 55, went to MRMC with the children and refused treatment, FHP said. However, while at the hospital, Ortiz was admitted with non-life-threatening injuries, according to FHP.</p><p>Roberts said the adults were not wearing their seat belts, and the children were not restrained or in child seats.</p><p>Ortiz was cited for careless driving and not having child restraint seats.</p><p>Court records show Ortiz has had several traffic convictions and infractions dating back to 2000. Among his convictions were for no motor vehicle registration, leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, four counts of alter license plate validation and one count of unlawful use of a temporary tag.</p><p>Ortiz's infractions include driving while license is suspended or revoked, careless driving and not wearing a seat belt.</p>